Bill will lead the Massed Bands during the Welcome Ceremony and during the Awards Ceremony. He can be found at the Kid's Games from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. letting the kids experience being a Drum Major. He will also be available for photos as he serves as an Ambassador for the Scotland County Highland Games.
From Bill:
Having been in and around the pipe band community since the late 90’s it never occurred to me that I would one day be a Drum Major, let alone a Senior Drum Major. I attended my first Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain in 1995 and up to that point had never seen or heard bagpipes live. The bug bit and I began lessons with a local pipe and drum band. I played on and off as work allowed and over the last decade have played hundreds of events as a solo piper.
It is a bit odd for a Drum Major to come from piping and not drumming but it does happen. I started receiving Drum Major instruction about 5 years ago from the late Bob Wiebe, Drum Major for Jamestown Pipes & Drums. Bob had been a Drum Major for 30 years in Washington state before moving here. Since then, I have received instruction from Iain McGibbon in Canada. I have made several friends within the Drum Major community in Scotland as well, and I am always interested in any guidance they can give.
I participated in the 2026 Virginia International Tattoo as a guest Drum Major and received invitations to attend two large Highland Games in Canada as well.
Spending time with the lil’uns in wee Scotland is just passing on the knowledge in hopes of lighting a spark for the future generation. Even at a basic level maybe they will be interested at some point in carrying the mace.
It is an absolute honor to serve as Senior Drum Major for the Scotland County Highland Games. Please feel free to stop me for a photo or questions about my full-dress uniform.
Bill Whitfield giving Drum Major lessons at the 2025 SCHG Kid's Games.
